Great British Getaways – England In Springtime and The Best of Both Worlds
There’s nowhere quite like the beauty of England when spring is in air. As the winter frost melts away welcoming in the new season, there are some lovely, peaceful spots for a spring break and we want to take you on a mini journey of some of our favourite places that will charm the socks off you. You know what it’s like – you want a nice relaxing break somewhere nice and tranquil to blow off the cobwebs but the kids want an action-packed holiday, trawling around all the major attractions. How do you please everyone? Easy. Compromise and combine both the bright lights of the big city with the charm of the countryside.
We’ve come up with a great town and country combo that is sure to tick all the boxes for you and your family. If you’ve been looking for inspiration in how to keep everyone amused on your next getaway then look no further.
You could be heading to London for all it has to offer (and that’s a lot!) with a couple of quieter days tagged on after the hustle and bustle of the capital. There are some beautiful spots within easy reach of London, either by car or by train which will allow families to really enjoy the best of both worlds.
This spring, there are some fabulous discounts on London’s family attractions as well as decent hotel offers.
London can be pricey when you have kids in tow but with these pocket friendly prices from our friends at Viator, your hard-earned cash will go that little bit further. Take a look at these offers.
Some of the best sightseeing tours and attractions are waiting for you and yours to enjoy. Choose from the Tower of London, The View from the Shard, Madame Tussauds, Ripley’s Believe It Or Not! And there’s even nice cruises along the River Thames which is a great way of seeing London without walking too far or getting pulled along in busy crowds.
Additionally, if you would prefer to take in the city sights on dry land, don’t miss the open top bus tours. On a short, city break, it’s sometimes difficult to squeeze in all the sights and landmarks and London has such a long ‘to do’ list that it’s hard to get around them all in one go. Why not just hop on the city sightseeing bus and experience London’s streets and iconic landmarks in style…and comfort! Better still, you can get on and off whenever you fancy which allows you to pack in as many attractions and locations as you want. It really is a great day out and more importantly, you won’t have to tackle the London traffic by yourself, just sit back, relax and enjoy the view!
Another one of our favourite things to do in London is to take in a show. No trip to the capital would be complete without a night in the West End where there is an amazing choice of shows on offer and something to suit everyone too. However, some of the best family picks for spring and summer this year are School of Rock, Wicked, Annie(opens May 2017) and Aladdin. Another corker opening in London this spring is Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Carousel, starring Katharine Jenkins and Alfie Boe. Book tickets for any of the top shows here.
So, you’ve had a blast in the big city and now it’s time for a rest in slightly more peaceful surroundings. SO…. where to next? Well, for any of you Jilly Cooper fans out there, you’ll have heard of The Cotswolds; a picturesque rural area in England that covers several counties notably Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire and the setting for many of Cooper’s popular novels.
The medieval towns and villages are quintessentially English and wouldn’t look out of place on the top of a chocolate box with its glorious countryside and charming traditional pubs. Sounds nice, doesn’t it? Larger market towns and villages such as Cirencester, Chipping Norton and Stow-on-the Wold might be good choices for first timers, especially if you like a bit of shopping in quaint, independent boutiques and stores.
Getting here is pretty easy too, you can either pack up the car and drive yourself which might be better if you want the freedom of exploring at our own pace but you can also pick up regular train services from London and the journey should take less than two hours.
Another fascinating place to visit from this neck of the woods is Stratford-Upon Avon, birthplace of William Shakespeare and all round pretty as a picture town. As well as being able to pay homage to the ‘Bard of Avon’ himself by visiting the house he was born and raised in, which is something of a shrine to the 16th century poet and playwright, you can also take in a performance by the Royal Shakespeare Company and enjoy one of his great works in live theatre. Take a look at the Royal Shakespeare Company’s programme for the year ahead to help you decide.
Stratford Upon Avon is a typically English town bursting with character and culture. It’s also a busy market town and you can buy delicious local produce from the weekly farmers’ markets.
Perhaps stay overnight here in Stratford or visit for a day from your base in the Cotswolds. Here are some of our Cotswolds hotel offers for you to choose from.
We hope you’re feeling inspired by some of these ideas for your next trip and if you need more help in planning your getaway why not pop over and update your profile? You can ask other members for hints and tips on getting the most out of your holiday. And don’t forget to share your photos with us when you get back!
Happy travels…